Connecter for electric cables



Oct. 2, 1934. E. M, LIVINGSTON CONNECTER FOR ELECTRIC CABLES Filed OCT.. 24. 1952 f ATTORNEYS.

BYA

NEW l,

ilatented @ch 9 1934 CNNEQER FR ELECTBJI@ CABLES Edmund M. lliivingston, Chambersburg, Pa.

Application @ctober 2i, 11332, Seriali No. 639,213 c claims. (ci. ira-sea) My invention relates generally to connecters for -joining together electric cable sections,and more particularly to connecters which join a plurality of conductors of one cable section to a like num- 5 ber of conductors of another cable section, and which are so designed as. to be capable of being assembled and disassembled with ease and rapidity.

While the. invention is adapted for a variety of uses,. I have found it to be especially useful as applied to the operation. of electric tools on railway track. For example, in conducting welding and grinding operations along a section of railway track, it is desirable to employ comparatively long cables. llt is a cult matter to drag such cables along-the ground following the operations as they continue from one point along the track to another. The cables are heavy and dragging them along the ground wears them out very 2@ quickly. By dividing the cables into comparatively short lengths and joining the sections together by the connecters of this invention, these dimculties are avoided. o

The object of the invention is to provide a cable connecter which issuited for such use as that described, as well as many other uses, and which is characterized by such features as interchangeability, the parts of the cable connecter being duplicated at each end, and ease of assembly and a@ disassembly. V

Other objects and advantages characterizing my invention. including maintenance of good electrical contact between the cable sections which are joined together, will become more fully ap- 35 parent from the description hereinafter set forth, of one embodiment or example of the practice of the invention. The description' has reference to the accompanying drawing, whereof:

Fig. l represents a side elevation of a cable con- A@ necter of my invention.

Fig. H represents an enlarged view of the same,

, partly in longitudinal cross section as indicated by the lines Il-H of Fig. ll, and partly in elevation.

Fig. m represents a transverse cross section of the e, taken as indicated by the lines m-m of Fig. H..

Fig. 1V represents an additional. transverse crosssection of the same, taken as indicated by the lines IV-IV of Fig. II.

Fig. V represents a perspective view of one of the coupling members of the connecter and the cap associated therewith.

Fig. VI represents a perspective view of one of the insulating bushings of the connecter and the connecting plugs associated therewith.

Fig. m represents a perspective view of a ter-= minal member of one of thecable conductors; and, Fig. le represents a perspective view of the connecting sleeve by which the coupling members 'are joined to each other.

In the drawing, I have shown an example of the use of my invention as applied to the joining together of electric cables carrying a pair of con= ductors. It will be obvious, however, that the connecter of my invention is also applicable to cables carrying three or more conductors. Adjoining cable sections are designated at l, and the conductors embedded therein are designed at 2. Iiilhe connecter used for securing together the ad joining cable sections comprises generally cylindrical bushings 3 housed within coupling members i anda connecting sleeve 5 of tubular form.

Each coupling member a has a threaded end 6 into which is fitted a correspondingly threaded cap 7, these parts being separately illustrated in Fig. V. The cap l preferably has a knurled nange 8 whereby it may be conveniently screwed into the coupling member d. Each cap 7 termi= nates in a reduced portion 9 having an opening lo through which the cable section l passes. ad jacent to the opening lo there is an. annular re cess 1l which is adapted to be engaged by clamp @members l2. While a variety of forms of clamp members may be utilized for the purpose of taining the cap 7 against rotation about the cable sectional, ll have shown in the present instance, in Figs. ll and li, clamp embers hav= ing opposed jaws i3 fitting the annular recess 1i aforesaid and having part cylindricalportions 14 surrounding the cable and joined together by screw bolts l5 and nuts ld.

Each bushing 3, as shown in Fig. Vl, is ot sub= stantially cylindrical contour and. has therein a pair of spaced bores 20, each accom dating a terminal member 2l. The bushings 3 are .rv-1.1 of brous or other insulating material, and the terminal members 21 are maintainedin place by setscrews 22 engaging in annular recesses. The terminal members 2l, one of which is sho in perspective in Fig. VII, are formed at their outer end with sockets 23 which accote the ends 24 oi the conductors 2. Toinsure Vg electrical contact, the conductor ends 24 are by preference Ainserted within the sockets 23 and there secured by pouring solder into the annular cavity surrounding the conductor ends 24. At their opposite ends the terminal members 21 are provided with similarly shaped sockets 25,'the latter sockets, however, being longitudinally slotted as indicated at 26 so as to resist yieldingly the may be coupled to the other.

Each bushing has a keyway 28 in its exterior surface which engages the inner end of a pin 29 on the corresponding coupling member li. rlhe pins 29 are located near the adjoining ends of the coupling members i and when the connecter is assembled they-are diametrically opposite to each other.

It will be observed that the two bushings 3 are counterparts of each other, and present at the center of the connecter opposed at faces 30 with their sockets 25 in aligned position, when the connecter is assembled. For joining the terminals 2l of one bushing 3 to those of the other bushing, the connecting plugs 27 are provided. The plugs 27 have like formed ends, and a cylindrical body portion 33 which is adapted to it within the cavities 34. at the ends of the sockets 25. inasmuch as the bushings 3 are alike and the connecting plugs 27 have like formed ends, no particular care need be exercised in choosing the proper end of one cable section which is to be joined to another, for the parts are interchangeable.

llthe coupling members d are likewise counter-- parts of each other, and the outer ends of their pins 29 serve as the means by which one member To eect this coupling ll prefer to form the connecting sleeves 5 with diagonal slots 35 near their ends into which the outer ends of the pins 29 are adapted to be inserted. Each slot 35, as shown in Fig. VIII, has associated therewith a longitudinally din rected opening 36 into which a pin 29 is guided and a slightly enlarged circular cavity 37 in which the pin is caught when the connecter is assembled. Additional narrow slots 38 cause the outer tongues 39 of the connecting sleeve 5 to spring when the connecting sleeve is turned in assembling or disassembling the parts.

To assemble the parts together, it being assumed that the bushings 3 are within their re-l spective coupling members 4, the connecting plugs 27 are inserted within the sockets 25 at the end face 30 of one of the bushings 3 and the connecting sleeve 5 is placed on one of the coupling members 4 and is adjusted so that the pin 29 lies within the longitudinal opening 3o at the end of the sleeve. The other coupling member 4 is then turned so that its pin 29 is diametrically opposite to the pin of the first coupling member, and is directed into the opening 36 of the slot at the other end of the `sleeve 5. As the coupling members are pressed together, the connecting plugsy 27 will seat themselves in the sockets 25and the end faces 30 of the bushings 3 will come together. By a turning movement of the connecting sleeve 5, the pins are caused to be advanced diagonally through the slots 35 and into their circular cavities 3.7. incident to this movement, the tongues 39 will yield somewhat, causing the pins to snap into the circular cavities 37 o the slots 36 and to be there retained against dislodgment.

inasmuch as the cable sections l are clamped by means of the clamp members l2 to the coupling members d, and the bushings 3 are keyed to the same members, it is impossLble for the conductors 2 to become twisted within the con# necter. Moreover, the clamp members l2 serve additionally to relieve strain on the cable sections. When two or more cable sections are connected together and a force is applied tending to separate the elements of the connecter, such as when the cable sections are dragged along the .insertion therein of the connecting plugs 27.

ground, the connecting sleeve 5 maintains the parts in firm engagement, and there is no strain upon the conductors 2 where they join the terminal members 21. t

From the above description it will be apparent that the connecter of my invention may be assembled and disassembled with ease and rapidity and that it is so designed as to relieve the conductors of any tension or twisting strains. Furthermore, the sections of the connecter are interchangeable, as contrasted with male and female couplings, so that either end of one cable section may be connected with either end of another section. The interchangeability of the ends of the connecter and the manner in which the coupling is effected make it particularly useful as a temporary connection between adjoining cable sections.

While l have described one particular form which the connecter of myy invention may take, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form of the apparatus herein described and illustrated without departing from the spirit of my invention -as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

l. A connecter for electric cable sections composed of a plurality of conductors comprising a pair of coupling members, each coupling member being clamped to the end of a cable section, bushings of insulating material housed within said coupling members, a plurality of sockets in the end face of each said bushing, said sockets forming the terminals of the conductors of said cable sections, detachable connecting plugs having like ends joining the sockets of one bushing with those of the other, and a connecting sleeve having like ends intertting with the exterior surfaces of said coupling members and adapted upon rotation to draw one coupling member towards the other and to maintain said bushings in alignment with their end faces contiguous to each other.

2. A connecter for. electric cable sections cornposed of a plurality of conductors comprising a pair of cylindrical coupling members, each coupling member being clamped to the end of a cable section, bushings of insulating material fitting within and keyed to said coupling members, a plurality of sockets in the end face of each said bushing, said sockets forming the terminals of the conductors of said cable sections, detachable connecting plugs having like ends joining the sockets of one bushing with those of the other, and a connecting sleeve having like ends intertting with the exterior surfaces of said coupling members and adapted upon rotation to draw one coupling member towards the other and to maintain said bushings in alignment with their end faces contiguous to each other.

3. A connecter for electric cable sections composed of a plurality of conductors comprising a pair of cylindrical coupling members, each coupling member having an exterior projection near one end and being clamped at its opposite end to lll@ a cable section, bushings of insulating material M@ housed within said coupling members, a plurality of sockets in the end face of each said bushing, said sockets forming the terminals of the conductors of said cable sections, detachable connecting plugs having like ends joining the sock- .145

ets of one bushing with those of the other, and a connecting sleeve having like slotted ends engaging the exterior projections of said coupling members, and thereby adapted upon rotation to draw one coupling member towards the other and serv= 1h50) nemesi ing to maintain said bushings in alieni; with their end faces contiguous to each other.

s. .l connecter of electric cable sections coin.E posed of a plurality of conductors comprising e, pair of cylindrical coupling members, each conu pling member having an exterior projection near one end and having a threaded cap at its other end, each said cap having an opening for the passage of a cable section' therethrough and having an annular flange adjacent to said opening, clamps engaging the calole sections end tlie an= nular anges of said caps, bushmgs of insulating material iseyed within said coupling members, a plurality of sockets in the end face o each seid bushing, said sockets forming the terminals ci the concluctorsof seid cable sections, detachable connecting plugs having like ends joining the sockets of one bushing with those of the other, and e connecting sleeve having like slotted ends engaging the exterior projections of said coupling members and joining one coupling member with the other.

5. A connecter for electric cable sections composed of a plurality of conductors comprising a pair of cylindricel coupling members, each coupling member having a pin passed through its Wall, and each coupling member being clamped to a ca'ole section, busl'iings` of insulating mate rial housed within said coupling members end nai/ing lseyvrays engaging the inner ends of said pins, e. plurality of soclsets in the end lace of eeclo. said pushing, said sockets forming the terminals oi the conductors ci said cable' sections, detachable connecting plugs having like ends joining the sockets of one bushing' with those of the other, and a connecting sleeve having likeV slotted ends engaging the outer ends of said pins, thereloy joining one coupling member with the other.

6. .il connecter for electric cable sections composed of a plurality of conductors comprising a pair ci cylindrical coupling mei/nnen?, each coupling mernloer having a pin passing through its wall, end each coupling member being clamped to a cnlole section, bushings of insulating material housed `within seid coupling members and liav= ing lzeyways engaging the inner ends oi said pins, a plurality of sockets in the end face of each said bushing, said sockets forming the terminals of the conductors o said cable sections, detachable connecting plugs having like ends joining the sockets of one bushing with those of the other, and a connecting sleeve having like diagonally slotted ends engaging the outer ends oi said pins and adapted upon rotation to draw the coupling members and bushings together.

ED M. EWNGSTON. 

